MLB Player News

Witt went 0-for-4 during Saturday's loss to the Twins.

Witt has yet to pick up a hit in his first two games of the season. There's obviously plenty of time left in the season, but it's possible there's some rust to shake off after not getting regular playing time for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic in March. There's no reason to panic at this point, but it's a disappointing start for one of the most talented players in baseball.

Smith will start in left field and bat ninth in Saturday's game against Philadelphia.

Smith is making his second straight start in left field, both coming against right-handers. He was projected for utility work, but center fielder Leody Taveras' oblique injury forced manager Bruce Bochy to adjust the outfield. For the second straight game, Adolis Garcia starts in center and be flanked by Smith in left and Robbie Grossman in right. The Phillies are scheduled to throw left-hander Bailey Falter on Sunday, which will offer a glimpse into Bochy's lineup preferences against southpaws. Bubba Thompson could enter the starting nine in place of Smith in Sunday's series finale.

Anderson went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Friday's loss to the Astros.

The star shortstop scored on Eloy Jimenez's first-inning double after walking and swiping second base. Anderson has collected four hits while reaching base in six of his 10 plate appearances through two games. He's off to a strong start in his quest for a fifth consecutive season with a batting average over .300.

Crawford (foot) went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run in the Mariners' win over the Guardians on Thursday.

Crawford slotted into his usual starting shortstop role as expected Opening Day after completing his recovery from a sore foot, and he made an impact by drawing a leadoff walk in the eighth inning of what was a scoreless game at that point. Crawford eventually came around to score on Ty France's three-run home run, which proved the difference in the contest. Crawford is likely to remain in or near the No. 9 spot he hit out of Thursday for the time being, but it's worth noting the 28-year-old hit all across the order in 2022, including 119 plate appearances in the leadoff spot.

Diaz went 2-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk in the Athletics' win over the Angels on Thursday.

He and Seth Brown were the only two players with multiple hits for the Athletics in the pitchers' duel, and Diaz reached base a team-high three times overall. His eighth-inning single snapped a 1-1 tie, plating Tony Kemp with what turned out to be the winning run. Diaz drew the start at shortstop Thursday, but he's projected to see time at second base and third base as well over the course of the season.

Anderson went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run scored Thursday against the Astros.

Anderson assumed his typical role as the White Sox's leadoff hitter, and he had a positive start to his season. His double came with two outs in the third inning, though he was ultimately stranded, but he scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning after earning a one-out walk. Anderson's 2022 season was derailed by groin and finger injuries, though he entered the new campaign fully healthy after also playing in the World Baseball Classic.

Pena went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Thursday against the White Sox.

Pena was expected to drop in the batting order after hitting primarily in the two-hole in 2022. However, with Jose Altuve (hand) and Michael Brantley (shoulder) sidelined, Pena instead moved to the leadoff spot. He didn't have a particularly notable performance, though he did lead off the game with a single before proceeding to steal second base. After delivering 11 stolen bases in his rookie season, Pena could see an uptick in production due to his lineup placement and the new rules that have been implemented to benefit baserunners.

Bichette went 4-for-6 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI in Thursday's 10-9 win over the Cardinals.

The Blue Jays played small ball and lots of it with 16 singles on the afternoon, and Bichette and George Springer accounted for eight of them from the top of the order. Bichette has never hit below .290 in his four big-league seasons, but the 25-year-old could be ready to take a big step forward with his overall production in 2023 after posting a career-low .802 OPS last year.

Volpe went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 5-0 win over San Francisco.

The 21-year-old got a loud reaction from the Bronx faithful during pregame introductions. He worked a walk in his first big-league plate appearance and quickly stole second base, flashing some of the skills that make him a top prospect. Volpe also turned his first double play in pinstripes, a sixth-inning twin killing behind Gerrit Cole. It looks like Volpe will be batting ninth in the order for the time being.

Franco went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Tigers.

Franco added an insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo home run off Mason Englert to put the Rays up 4-0. While he was otherwise quiet, the performance was reassuring after he battled a quadriceps issue late in spring training. After managing only 344 plate appearances in 2022, Franco will look to put together a full season of productivity this season.